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Low blood pressure collapse
Well that was an exciting afternoon...
Last chemo was on Tuesday; fatigue in full flight, nausea present but not too bad after a slightly better than normal night's sleep. Had a long standing dietician appointment at 1230 today, which I should've moved but just didn't process it. Chemo brain. Two friends drove me there and afterwards we went to get some lunch at a Chinese restaurant. I ordered some green veg, something plain to slip down easily.
Before the food had even arrived I started to feel like just being there was all too much. Head went into my hands, then onto the table. Needed to lie down. Very quickly really needed to lie down. Folded over onto the chair next to me. Started to pass out. Felt like I was going to vomit and go the other end as well. Hot and clammy and I'm told white as a sheet.
At that moment, unbelievably, two ambos came in to get lunch. It's the kind of miracle that doesn't happen in my life. Instant first aid. Daniel and Curtis, angels both.
They asked all the questions, had a blood pressure cuff on me fast, 80/40, and very quickly I was on a stretcher heading to the hospital five minutes away. They put the end of the stretcher up so my legs were elevated. That instantly helped.
It took about two hours for my bp to get back to normal. Two ecgs, iv fluids (took two goes to get the line in...), blood tests, oncologist called etc etc. Husband called in from work, my friends rearranging their schedules, what a palaver! What an embarrassment :/
End result is they don't know why it happened. I'm home in bed now and will not be venturing out for quite some time to come. Anyone else have low blood pressure problems? How was your Friday afternoon?!
Last chemo was on Tuesday; fatigue in full flight, nausea present but not too bad after a slightly better than normal night's sleep. Had a long standing dietician appointment at 1230 today, which I should've moved but just didn't process it. Chemo brain. Two friends drove me there and afterwards we went to get some lunch at a Chinese restaurant. I ordered some green veg, something plain to slip down easily.
Before the food had even arrived I started to feel like just being there was all too much. Head went into my hands, then onto the table. Needed to lie down. Very quickly really needed to lie down. Folded over onto the chair next to me. Started to pass out. Felt like I was going to vomit and go the other end as well. Hot and clammy and I'm told white as a sheet.
At that moment, unbelievably, two ambos came in to get lunch. It's the kind of miracle that doesn't happen in my life. Instant first aid. Daniel and Curtis, angels both.
They asked all the questions, had a blood pressure cuff on me fast, 80/40, and very quickly I was on a stretcher heading to the hospital five minutes away. They put the end of the stretcher up so my legs were elevated. That instantly helped.
It took about two hours for my bp to get back to normal. Two ecgs, iv fluids (took two goes to get the line in...), blood tests, oncologist called etc etc. Husband called in from work, my friends rearranging their schedules, what a palaver! What an embarrassment :/
End result is they don't know why it happened. I'm home in bed now and will not be venturing out for quite some time to come. Anyone else have low blood pressure problems? How was your Friday afternoon?!
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- @Joannie @lrb_03 Thank you ladies
- There's often no explanation why these things happen.
Take it easy, and don't stand up too suddenly for a few days, if it took 2 hours to get your BP back up.
Don't be too embarrassed (I won't say don't be embarrassed at all, it's a natural reaction, lol), it could happen to any of us - Unexpected and slightly odd sign in the emergency department!
